Google Clears Another Step In EU Antitrust Case

BRUSSELS (AP) – A spokesman for the European Union’s antitrust body says Google has submitted proposals to address concerns that it is dominating the online search and advertising markets.

The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm, is investigating whether Google Inc. unfairly favors its own services in its Internet search results.

Google’s search engine – the world’s most influential gateway to online information and commerce – enjoys a near-monopoly in Europe.

Spokesman Antoine Colombani said Monday Google has submitted in legally binding form a list of remedies to address the Commission’s concerns. Those will shortly be put to a market test to see whether they will be sufficient.

The Commission will make a final decision on the case – launched in 2010 – sometime after learning the market test’s results.